Confidence drops across UK services in face of higher costs and weak demand

Business confidence plunged this month across the UK’s services sector as mounting cost pressures and weak demand hit profits and undermined the outlook for the rest of the year.The CBI’s latest service sector poll found that a majority of companies were gloomy about their prospects and discounted the acceleration in activity that usually follows the return to work after the summer break.Falling sales and rising costs meant most firms were suffering a profit squeeze, the CBI said, leading to lower hiring and cuts to investment.Consumer services firms reported a negative outlook for the eighth consecutive month while services companies that sell to other businesses reported a decline in activity for the fourth consecutive month.Optimism about the general business situation deteriorated, though the panic induced in the previous quarter by Donald Trump’s initial tariffs was much reduced

Ryanair to raise bonus to €2.50 for staff who spot oversized cabin bags

Ryanair will pay airport staff increased and unlimited bonuses of €2.50 for every non-compliant carry-on bag they take from passengers, the airline’s boss has announced.Passengers whose cabin cases exceed the maximum dimensions for a small suitcase are charged fees of up to £75 and their luggage is taken into the hold.The fines have outraged some travellers, especially when it emerged that staff at the boarding gate have been incentivised to spot oversized bags.However, an unrepentant Michael O’Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, said the airline would be upping the bonuses to keep baggage to the correct size

US parents and teachers: share your experiences of AI in schools

Students in grades K-12 have been invited by Melania Trump to take part in a nationwide contest designed to encourage the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help solve community issues. The first lady wants students to “unleash their imagination and showcase the spirit of American innovation” by participating in the government-sponsored contest.We want to hear from parents and teachers on their experiences of AI in schools. How do you feel about it being used in education? Do you support it or are you against it?You can tell us what you think of the use of AI in schools by filling in the form below.Please include as much detail as possible

Half of UK adults worry that AI will take or alter their job, poll finds

Half of adults in the UK are concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on their job, according to a poll, as union leaders call for a “step change” in the country’s approach to new technologies.Job losses or changes to terms and conditions were the biggest worries for the 51% of 2,600 adults surveyed for the Trades Union Congress who said they were concerned about the technology.AI is a particular concern for workers aged between 25 and 34, with nearly two-thirds (62%) of those surveyed reporting such worries.The TUC poll was released as a string of large employers – including BT, Amazon , and Microsoft – have said in recent months that advances in AI could lead them to cut jobs.Britain’s job market is slowing amid a cooling economy, with the UK’s official jobless rate at a four-year high of 4

US Open tennis 2025: injured Draper withdraws, Raducanu on day four – live

Righto, that’s us done for today. Join me again tomorrow at 4.30pm BST, for more ridiculous behaviour, but until then, peace out.Another nails serve and Norrie seals the win, at the end of a pulsating, wild and banging match. Next for him: Djokovic

Fritz, Pegula and Navarro lead American charge into US Open third round

Taylor Fritz overcame a jittery start, Jessica Pegula extended her run of consistency and Emma Navarro continued to build on last year’s breakout season as all three Americans advanced to the third round of the US Open with convincing victories on Wednesday.On a breezy afternoon at Flushing Meadows, Fritz recovered from a sluggish opening set to defeat South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-4. The fourth seed, runner-up here last year, was forced to navigate a tricky test against the big-serving Harris, who has been rebuilding his career after injuries saw his ranking plummet outside the world’s top 300.Fritz dropped serve early and ceded the first set as Harris’s forehand found its range. But the American steadied behind his own delivery, pounding 17 aces in all, and dominated the second-set tiebreak to level the match